The workplace of the future with The Edge 2.0

Deloitte continues its technology-driven journey

The Edge is the world’s most sustainable and connected building, and has been the base of operations for Deloitte since 2014. The building was realized by Deloitte in an exciting partnership with construction, real estate and technology ecosystem partners. As a connected building, The Edge is always improving itself. On top of that Deloitte is taking big steps in its journey towards the workplace of the future. While the building is enthusiastically used by about 2800 users daily, and its features add to the innovative performance of Deloitte Consulting (Gartner) there is plenty of room for further innovation based on the connected infrastructure. Deloitte is a firm believer of continuous improvement in small steps in order to keep innovating on all fronts.

Creating value through IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) and the accompanying ecosystems are driving new contracting forms as well as new ways of working together. IoT is a suite of technologies that enables turning any object into a source of information about that object. IoT creates a new source of value that can be managed in its’ own right.

The value is created when information about an object is flowing through a number of stages. Deloitte has modeled these stages into the Information Value Loop, where value is created when the loop is closed.

Information Value Loop

As can be seen in the visual, the loop starts with an act that is monitored by one or more sensors, which create information. That information passes through a network so that it can be communicated. Standards—technical, legal, regulatory, or social—allow that information to be aggregated across time and space. Augmented intelligence is a generic term meant to capture all manner of analytical support, which collectively is used to analyze the aggregated information. The loop is completed via augmented behavior technologies that either enable automated autonomous action or shape human decisions in a manner that leads to improved action.

The different stages in the framework need not be executed by one party in the ecosystem. Rather, it is generally a collaborative effort to realize the value as the partners in the ecosystem each have their own expertise and assets to contribute to different stages. It is of paramount importance to work closely together to ensure optimal interconnectivity, alignment and trust.

A typical example from the day to day life at the Edge is the use of the ‘badge controlled lockers’. The usage of lockers is tracked, because opening and closing sensors send data towards the central ‘aggregated data source’ where data is aggregated and analyzed. Based on these analytics, it turned out that some lockers were used for a very long time by the same person. This is unwanted behavior as the lockers are meant for short term use in line with the hot-desking concept at The Edge. Based on that insight, the facilities organization is now able to address people that use a locker for too long a period, leading to augmented behavior within the building, allowing more people to make use of the lockers.

This example shows how value is created from information. To capture that value in a complex ecosystem like the Edge is a challenge on its own. Partners need to be engaged in order to adapt contracts, as the contracts need to be leaner and allow for performance-based outcomes. Based on their involvement in the stages of the Information Value Loop, partners will have different contributions to the overall value created and this provides a good starting point for contract renegotiation.

The Edge 2.0: innovation in new areas

Two years after Deloitte started using the Edge, which is still the most sustainable and innovative building in the world, Deloitte is taking a new step to further improve the value coming from this building.

Main goal is to build further on the solid foundation that has been laid out in order to reap further benefits, and innovate into new areas. Examples include: use of indoor location awareness, improving meeting room usage, contract innovation, and further leverage of the data that has been and is being collected.

Innovation will take place inside the Deloitte organization, but also outside of it. External partners are included in the next step. Next to that, Deloitte is working together with clients to support them in their journey toward the Workplace of the Future.

We will keep you informed on the steps in our journey. In the meantime, get in contact with us via Edge2@deloitte.nl

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